20. As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.
21. Eight days later Jesus' parents did for him what the Law of Moses commands. And they named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary when he promised she would have a baby.
22. The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord,
23. just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each firstborn baby boy belongs to the Lord.”
24. The Law of the Lord also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.
25. At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him
26. and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
27. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple.
28. Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
29. “Lord, I am your servant,and now I can die in peace,because you have keptyour promise to me.
30. With my own eyes I have seenwhat you have doneto save your people,
31. and foreign nationswill also see this.